NameCensus.

UK surname

Toye

An anglicized variant of a French surname derived from a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Toye surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 858, ranked #6,528, up from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Glasgow and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre Forest, Glenmavis and Greengairs and IZ02.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Toye is 934 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 168.1%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

858

2016, ranked #6,528

Peak year

2010

934 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Toye had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016, ranked #6,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Toye surname distribution map

The map shows where the Toye surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Toye surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Toye over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 172 #11,682
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 419 #8,551
1901 historical 457 #8,610
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 839 #6,303
1998 modern 862 #6,364
1999 modern 887 #6,280
2000 modern 864 #6,367
2001 modern 847 #6,354
2002 modern 875 #6,312
2003 modern 859 #6,299
2004 modern 882 #6,197
2005 modern 877 #6,139
2006 modern 893 #6,081
2007 modern 900 #6,084
2008 modern 897 #6,145
2009 modern 922 #6,140
2010 modern 934 #6,200
2011 modern 909 #6,278
2012 modern 865 #6,435
2013 modern 879 #6,469
2014 modern 873 #6,519
2015 modern 868 #6,492
2016 modern 858 #6,528

Geography

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Where Toyes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Glasgow, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre Forest, Glenmavis and Greengairs, IZ02, IZ06 and IZ11. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre Forest 005 Wyre Forest
2 Glenmavis and Greengairs North Lanarkshire
3 IZ02 West Dunbartonshire
4 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
5 IZ11 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Toye

These lists show first names that appear often with the Toye surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Toye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Toye, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Toye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Toye household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Toye is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Toye is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Toye falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Toye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Toye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Toye

The surname TOYE originated in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "toge," meaning a cloak or mantle. The name likely referred to an occupation, possibly a maker or seller of cloaks or mantles.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records with spellings such as "Toge," "Togge," and "Toye." One of the earliest recorded instances was in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a Robert Toge was mentioned.

The name TOYE was also found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, though the spelling varied. This ancient record compiled by William the Conqueror provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England at that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname TOYE was Richard Toye, who was born in Staffordshire, England, around 1450. He served as a soldier during the Wars of the Roses and fought for the Yorkist cause.

In the 16th century, the TOYE family had established roots in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Some notable individuals from this period include John Toye (1540-1618), a merchant and landowner from Bristol, and William Toye (1576-1649), a member of the gentry from Gloucestershire.

During the 17th century, the surname TOYE was found in various place names across England, such as Toye's Green in Buckinghamshire and Toye's Farm in Wiltshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the TOYE surname who owned or resided in those locations.

One prominent figure with the TOYE surname was Sir Robert Toye (1590-1658), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in the defense of Gloucester against the Royalist forces.

In the 18th century, the TOYE family continued to flourish, with members scattered across various regions of England. Notable individuals include Rev. William Toye (1712-1784), a clergyman from Oxfordshire, and Thomas Toye (1745-1821), a successful merchant and philanthropist from London.

Throughout history, the surname TOYE has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from soldiers and merchants to clergymen and landowners. While the name originated as an occupational term, it has evolved to become a distinct surname with a rich heritage in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Toye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Toye surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 92 Toyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.96x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 92 2.96x
Warwickshire 57 7.26x
Devon 32 4.94x
Surrey 26 1.71x
Lanarkshire 18 1.79x
Cornwall 14 3.97x
Sussex 14 2.67x
Lancashire 12 0.33x
Renfrewshire 10 4.15x
Staffordshire 8 0.76x
Gloucestershire 5 0.82x
Shropshire 5 1.86x
Yorkshire 5 0.16x
Fife 4 2.17x
Kent 4 0.38x
Hampshire 3 0.47x
Worcestershire 3 0.74x
Cumberland 2 0.75x
Monmouthshire 2 0.89x
Berkshire 1 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.20x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 40 Toyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.51x.

Place Total Index
Aston 40 18.51x
Bethnal Green London 26 19.24x
Islington London 19 6.30x
Barony 16 6.28x
Birmingham 15 5.74x
Battersea 10 8.73x
Lambeth 10 3.69x
Whitchurch 10 877.19x
Mile End Old Town 9 18.32x
Abbey 8 21.75x
Dalton In Furness 8 56.14x
Hackney London 8 4.59x
Handsworth 8 30.90x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 16.04x
Bow London 7 17.67x
Brighton 7 6.61x
Hove 7 30.41x
Kensington London 7 4.05x
Clerkenwell London 6 8.17x
Phillack 6 131.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 9.58x
Clifton 5 16.21x
St Erth 5 234.74x
Tavistock 5 67.75x
Bampton 4 202.02x
Exeter St David 4 72.33x
Greenwich 4 8.08x
Spitalfields London 4 17.09x
St Andrews 4 47.73x
Worthen 4 139.86x
Cakemore 3 447.76x
Constantine 3 146.34x
Shoreditch London 3 2.22x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 8.54x
Dean 2 227.27x
Gate Fulford 2 27.78x
North Meols 2 5.53x
St Michael Winchester 2 153.85x
West Derby 2 1.85x
Armley 1 7.35x
Barlby 1 181.82x
Buckholt 1 2000.00x
Chepstow 1 26.11x
Dawley 1 10.22x
Glasgow 1 0.56x
Goathurst 1 370.37x
Hampstead London 1 2.06x
Hampton London 1 19.57x
Maryhill 1 5.08x
Middle Greenock 1 15.20x
Old Kilpatrick 1 10.12x
Sandhurst 1 22.12x
Sheffield 1 1.02x
South Milton 1 270.27x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 22.73x
Trevethin 1 4.71x
West Greenock 1 2.31x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Toye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Toye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 20
George 12
James 12
John 11
Alfred 10
Henry 10
Frederick 8
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Edward 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
Ernest 2
Howard 2
Hy. 2
Albert 1
Alf 1
Allen 1
Archibald 1
Arlingham 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Edwin 1
Eward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.E. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Josiah 1
Leopold 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Rubin 1
Stephen 1
Thos.T. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Toye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Toye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Toye surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Toye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 858 in 2016. That gives Toye a modern rank of #6,528.

What does the Toye surname mean?

An anglicized variant of a French surname derived from a place name.

What does the Toye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Toye bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.